Labour to protect existing MPs above winning more seats at next election, deputy leader says | Labour

Deputy leader Lucy Powell has told Labor MPs that Labor will move to a “mission first” model rather than targeting seats to retain MPs at the next election.

Powell said the party would support MPs to become “leaders in their communities” and learn how to benefit politically from changes made by the government, for which MPs have so far received little credit.

But he also told MPs at the first Labor Party (PLP) parliamentary meeting of the year that they must stop infighting amid continued discontent with Keir Starmer’s leadership.

MPs will be offered workshops by organizers at Labor Party HQ on how to “get credit” for improvements to the local area or policies that directly help voters implemented by the Labor government, including frozen rail fares, local community and high street funding and the extension of the warm homes discount.

“This is a big change, organizationally and politically,” a Labor source said. “The party has the tools and training but Lucy and Anna Turley [the Labour party chair] “We are leading some political work on what else is needed and how MPs can support and share best practice.”

Labor HQ and Number 10 have made significant overtures to disgruntled MPs over the past few weeks in a bid to strengthen Starmer’s position and rebuild some semblance of unity in the PLP.

MPs were routinely invited to see the prime minister (including receptions at his country retreat Checkers) and the names of backbenchers were publicly checked by the chancellor and No 10 to campaign for measures adopted in the budget or lobby for a U-turn on agricultural inheritance tax changes.

At Tuesday’s PLP meeting, Powell said the government needed to speak more directly about its achievements and that “dark forces” did not want the Labor administration to succeed.

“We have a big argument to make and win. Labor stands with ordinary people in tackling the cost of living of the crisis, reshaping the country in the interests of the many, not the few, taking on vested interests, holding the powerful to account,” he said.

“With the budget and the most significant changes coming in the first half of this year, Labor has a stronger story to tell: better rights in the workplace, stronger protections for tenants, putting more money in people’s pockets, lifting children out of poverty, repairing the NHS and public services after Tory austerity.”

Powell, who criticized aspects of Starmer’s leadership during his campaign to become an MP, has openly backed the prime minister.

“We all need this government, led by Keir, to succeed and show that progressive mainstream politics works. Our chances either change or fall. Politics is a team sport. We are all leaders of this story, not commentators. If we fail, Reformation will be the winner and our communities will be the losers,” he said.

“Politics is painted in primary colours, and our color is red. We don’t get Labor governments very often; there are many powerful forces that want it to stay that way. Let’s use it and deliver the lasting change people vote for.”